Plant Pathology offers two masters degrees; the non-thesis master of plant pathology (MPP) and the thesis master of science (MS), and the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree requires students to complete a minimum of 30 semester (credit) hours and an original master’s research thesis. The Graduate School does not give credit for non-credit course work (i.e. non-departmental seminars, workshops, short courses, conferences, and any “life experience” offerings). Furthermore, the Graduate School does not allow credit by examination.

The student must have an advisory committee composed of the Chair of the committee (major advisor) and two additional members of the graduate faculty. The Committee must be formed and the Plan of Work (PoW) submitted before the start of the student’s 3^rd semester.

To fulfill the minimum 30-semester hour’s requirement, students must successfully complete:

• A minimum of 18 semester hours of letter-graded courses (A, B, C). These must be NC State University or inter-institutional courses. A maximum of 12 semester hours may come from the NCSU Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS). The graduate level courses must be “B” grade or better;
• and have final GPA of at least 3.0
• of which 12 semester hours are the required Plant Pathology core curriculum courses;
• presentation of the thesis research update in the third semester at the MS/PhD Symposium normally in fall semester (M.S. students register for PP601);
• Supervised teaching for the M.S. is optional (PP685).
• Minimum of six (6) semester hours of graduate-level courses beyond the core;
• Remaining hours in plant pathology or related field of study with no more than six (6) semester hours of 400-level (undergraduate) courses that cannot be in plant pathology;
• Master’s Thesis Research (PP695) semester hours unlimited as long as the program minimum requirements are met;
• The grade for all Satisfactory (S)/Unsatisfactory(S) graded courses must be “S”;
• Credit hours for the following courses may NOT be used to satisfy the 30-credit hour requirement: Non-Thesis Master’s Examination (XXX 690), Summer Thesis Research (XXX 696), Non-Thesis Master’s Continuous Registration (XXX 688 and XXX 689). If taken, these cannot be included in the PoW.

Updated: April 2022

To fulfill the 30 semester (credit) hours requirement, you must successfully complete:

• 12 semester hours of required core curriculum courses. A seminar is optional (PP601);
• remaining hours in plant pathology or related field of study with no more than six (6) semester hours of 400-level (undergraduate) courses that cannot be in plant pathology;
• and have final GPA of at least 3.0
• successfully pass a comprehensive oral examination;
• Master’s Thesis Research (PP695) may not be included on the plan of work.

Updated: April 2022

To fulfill the 72 semester hours requirement, you must successfully complete:

• 12 semester hours of required core curriculum courses or had the equivalent during the NCSU master’s program or the equivalent at another accredited institution;
• a minimum of 12 semester hours of graduate-level plant pathology courses or graduate-level courses from other departments approved by the student’s advisory committee and DGP (at least 6 of those semester hours should be at the 700-level);
• serve as a teaching assistant (PP 885) for one (1)  course, priority is for a lab component course;
• present two (2) doctoral research seminars (PP 801) for credit: a dissertation research proposal seminar presented to the student’s advisory committee and other program members no later than the end of the student’s 4^th semester AND a dissertation research update seminar presented at the annual fall or spring semester Symposia (PP 801 – one semester hour each);
• remaining hours in any graduate-level course in plant pathology (including dissertation research PP895) or related field of study to complete the 72 semester hours.

Additionally, the doctoral student must successfully:

• Unconditionally pass the preliminary comprehensive examination (written and oral components) within four (4) years of starting their program or after they have completed 48 hours of coursework, whichever is later (Graduate Handbook Section 3.5c);
• conduct original research leading to a dissertation; and
• unconditionally pass the final comprehensive oral examination that includes a seminar (course PP801 should NOT be included in the PoW) and defense of the dissertation.

All Degrees (MPP, M.S., and Ph.D.)

*Or, at least one semester hour of another graduate-level research ethics course.

Students who previously have not had a plant pathology course are strongly encouraged to take ‘Principles of Plant Pathology’ PP 590-003 (3 semester hours).

Master of Science (M.S.) Degree

• PP 601- Seminar in Plant Pathology (1 semester hour offered fall & spring semester Symposia)
• PP 685 – Supervised Teaching of 1 course (1-3 semester hours)
• PP 695 – Thesis Research no more than 6 may be used on the plan of work (major advisor may require a minimum of 1 semester hour per fall and spring semesters)

Doctoral (Ph.D.) Degree

• PP 801 – Seminar in Plant Pathology 1 semester hour dissertation research proposal NO later than start of 5^th semester and 1 semester hour dissertation presentation offered fall & spring semester Symposia no later than 7^th semester
• PP 885 – Supervised Teaching of 2 course (1-3 semester hours for each)
• PP 895 Dissertation Research as required to complete the 72 semester hours (major advisor may require a minimum of 1 semester hour per fall and spring semesters)

• PP 575 – Introduction to Mycology (4 semester hours, fall odd years)
• PP 715 – Applied Evolutionary Analysis of Population Genetic Data (3 semester hours, fall)
• PP 727 – Ecology of Soil Ecosystems (3 semester hours, spring even years)
• PP 590/790 (001) – Field Plant Pathology in NC (summer even years, register fall semester)
• PP 610/810 (001) – Genomic Science Journal Club (fall and spring semesters)

Also, on a variable semester basis specific course sections may be offered as:

• PP 590 Letter Graded Special Topic Master’s Courses

NOTE: Courses at the 500 level are letter graded. Students cannot enroll in these courses for ‘credit only.’

• PP 610 S/U Topic Master’s Courses
• PP 620 S/U Problem Master’s Courses

• PP 790 Letter Graded Special Topic Doctoral Courses

NOTE: Courses at the 700 level are letter graded. Students cannot enroll in these courses for ‘credit only.’
Registration in 700-level courses is restricted to graduate or PBS status

• PP 810 S/U Topic Doctoral Courses
• PP 820 S/U Problems Doctoral Courses

Students must complete the application process online at the NC State Graduate School. Review the Graduate School’s summary of application and admissions procedures for more information.

A complete application consists of the following:

• Online application form
• One (1) official transcript from each college/university attended*
• Personal Statement** (Please limit the personal statement to two pages, it should address the applicant’s long-term goals in their field of study, as well as their motivation for application to this particular program at NCSU)
• Resume**
• Three letters of recommendation**
• Official GRE scores (the Plant Pathology program does not require GRE) — Institution code 5496**
• Official TOEFL scores or IELTS scores**

We cannot evaluate prospective students prior to completion of the application process with the Graduate School.

*Send all transcripts to:
The Graduate School
North Carolina State University
1020 Main Campus Drive, Room 2300A
Campus Box 7102
Raleigh, NC 27695

**Do not send documents to the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Submit all documents and supporting materials, including letters of recommendation, through the online application process.

Program Director

Graduate Student Services Coordinator